Screen controlling method and device

ABSTRACT

According to an example embodiment, a method and device for controlling a screen displayed on a display is provided. The method includes: based on a layout of a split screen displayed on the display, verifying a trigger region in the split screen; based on a first input controlling a handle region of a pop-up window displayed on an upper layer of the split screen, detecting that at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; changing the layout of the split screen based on at least one of a position of the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window, a relative position of the handle region and a divider of the layout; and displaying a region in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/KR2022/010011 designating the United States, filed on Jul. 8, 2022,in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claimingpriority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0101549 filed on Aug.2, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure relates to a method and device for controlling a screendisplayed on a display.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently released electronic devices may provide a function ofdisplaying two or more programs or application execution screens on asingle display. For example, to display two or more applicationexecution screens, an electronic device may split a display into two ormore regions and display the application execution screens on theregions, or overlay a plurality of windows representing the applicationexecution screens and display the overlaid windows.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method of controlling amulti-window screen displaying one or more application execution windowson a display of an electronic device.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method of controlling a layoutof a screen including one or more application execution windows based onan input from a user.

However, technical aspects of the present disclosure are not limited tothe foregoing aspects, and other technical aspects may also be present.

According to an example embodiment, a method of controlling a screendisplayed on a display of an electronic device is provided. The methodincludes: based on a layout of a split screen displayed on the display,verifying a trigger region in the split screen; based on a first inputcontrolling a handle region of a pop-up window displayed on an upperlayer of the split screen, detecting that at least a portion of thetrigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; changing the layoutof the split screen based on at least one of a position of the portionof the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window and a relativeposition of the handle region and a divider of the layout; anddisplaying a region in the split screen in which the pop-up window is tobe arranged based on the changed layout of the split screen.

According to an example embodiment, a method of controlling a screendisplayed on a display of an electronic device is provided. The methodincludes: verifying a trigger region in a screen including an executionwindow of a first application run by the electronic device; based on afirst input controlling a position of a pop-up window displayed on anupper layer of the screen, detecting that at least a portion of thetrigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; splitting the screenincluding the execution window of the first application based on theposition of the overlaid portion of the trigger region; and displaying aregion in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.

According to an example embodiment, an electronic device is provided,the electronic device including: a display configured to output ascreen, and a processor operatively connected to the display andconfigured to control the screen displayed on the display. The processormay be configured to: verify a trigger region in a split screen based ona layout of the split screen displayed on the display, detect that atleast a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with a pop-up windowbased on a first input controlling a handle region of the pop-up windowdisplayed on an upper layer of the split screen, change the layout ofthe split screen based on at least one of a position of the portion ofthe trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window and a relativeposition of the handle region and a divider of the layout, and display aregion in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arrangedbased on the changed layout of the split screen.

According to an example embodiment, an electronic device is provided,the electronic device including a display configured to output a screen,and a processor operatively connected to the display and configured tocontrol the screen displayed on the display. The processor may beconfigured to: verify a trigger region in the screen including anexecution window of a first application being run, detect that at leasta portion of the trigger region is overlaid with a pop-up window basedon a first input controlling a position of the pop-up window displayedon an upper layer of the screen, split the screen including theexecution window of the first application based on the position of theoverlaid portion of the trigger region, and display a region in thesplit screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.

According to various example embodiments, a user may control anelectronic device to allow a plurality of application execution windowsto be displayed on a single display, and readily change an arrangementof the application execution windows displayed on the display of theelectronic device.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in anetwork environment according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a foldable electronic device in anunfolded state according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a foldable electronic device in afolded state according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a foldable electronic device ina fully unfolded state and a partially unfolded state (or anintermediate state) according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of adisplay module according to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of anelectronic device performing screen control according to variousembodiments;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating examples of a multi-windowaccording to various embodiments;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are diagrams illustrating examples of setting atrigger region according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of splitting a screenaccording to various embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling ascreen displayed on a display of an electronic device according tovarious embodiments;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D are diagrams illustrating examples ofdetermining a downsizing direction of windows included in a split screenaccording to various embodiments;

FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are diagrams illustrating an example ofdetermining a window to be downsized among windows included in a splitscreen according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C are diagrams illustrating an example ofdisplaying a position of a pop-up window by changing a layout of a splitscreen according to various embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling ascreen displayed on a display of an electronic device according tovarious embodiments; and

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating examples of controlling ascreen displayed on a display of an electronic device according tovarious embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various example embodiments will be described in greaterdetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing theexample embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, likereference numerals refer to like elements and a repeated descriptionrelated thereto may not be provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in anetwork environment according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an electronic device 101 in a network environment100 may communicate with an electronic device 102 via a first network198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or communicatewith at least one of an electronic device 104 and a server 108 via asecond network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network).According to an example embodiment, the electronic device 101 maycommunicate with the electronic device 104 via the server 108. Accordingto an example embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include aprocessor 120, a memory 130, an input module 150, a sound output module155, a display module 160, an audio module 170, and a sensor module 176,an interface 177, a connecting terminal 178, a haptic module 179, acamera module 180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, acommunication module 190, a subscriber identification module (SIM) 196,or an antenna module 197. In various example embodiments, at least one(e.g., the connecting terminal 178) of the above components may beomitted from the electronic device 101, or one or more other componentsmay be added in the electronic device 101. In various exampleembodiments, some (e.g., the sensor module 176, the camera module 180,or the antenna module 197) of the components may be integrated as asingle component (e.g., the display module 160).

The processor 120 may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware orsoftware component) of the electronic device 101 connected to theprocessor 120, and may perform various data processing or computation.According to an example embodiment, as at least a part of dataprocessing or computation, the processor 120 may store a command or datareceived from another component (e.g., the sensor module 176 or thecommunication module 190) in a volatile memory 132, process the commandor data stored in the volatile memory 132, and store resulting data in anon-volatile memory 134. According to an example embodiment, theprocessor 120 may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)) or an auxiliaryprocessor 123 (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neuralprocessing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hubprocessor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operableindependently of, or in conjunction with, the main processor 121. Forexample, when the electronic device 101 includes the main processor 121and the auxiliary processor 123, the auxiliary processor 123 may beadapted to consume less power than the main processor 121 or to bespecific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor 123 may beimplemented separately from the main processor 121 or as a part of themain processor 121.

The auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of functions orstates related to at least one (e.g., the display device 160, the sensormodule 176, or the communication module 190) of the components of theelectronic device 101, instead of the main processor 121 while the mainprocessor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state or along with themain processor 121 while the main processor 121 is an active state(e.g., executing an application). According to an example embodiment,the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an ISP or a CP) may be implemented asa portion of another component (e.g., the camera module 180 or thecommunication module 190) that is functionally related to the auxiliaryprocessor 123. According to an example embodiment, the auxiliaryprocessor 123 (e.g., an NPU) may include a hardware structure specifiedfor artificial intelligence (AI) model processing. An AI model may begenerated by machine learning. Such learning may be performed by, forexample, the electronic device 101 in which the AI model is performed,or performed via a separate server (e.g., the server 108). Learningalgorithms may include, but are not limited to, for example, supervisedlearning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, orreinforcement learning. The AI model may include a plurality ofartificial neural network layers. An artificial neural network mayinclude, for example, a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutionalneural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restrictedBoltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), and abidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network,or a combination of two or more thereof, but is not limited thereto. TheAI model may alternatively or additionally include a software structureother than the hardware structure.

The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component(e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176) of the electronicdevice 101. The data may include, for example, software (e.g., theprogram 140) and input data or output data for a command relatedthereto. The memory 130 may include the volatile memory 132 or thenon-volatile memory 134. The non-volatile memory 134 may include aninternal memory 136 and an external memory 138.

The program 140 may be stored as software in the memory 130, and mayinclude, for example, an operating system (OS) 142, middleware 144, oran application 146.

The input module 150 may receive a command or data to be used by anothercomponent (e.g., the processor 120) of the electronic device 101, fromthe outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The inputmodule 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard,a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output module 155 may output a sound signal to the outside ofthe electronic device 101. The sound output module 155 may include, forexample, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for generalpurposes, such as playing multimedia or playing records. The receivermay be used to receive an incoming call. According to an exampleembodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speakeror as a part of the speaker.

The display module 160 may visually provide information to the outside(e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The display module 160 mayinclude, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector, anda control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, thehologram device, and the projector. According to an example embodiment,the display module 160 may include a touch sensor adapted to sense atouch, or a pressure sensor adapted to measure an intensity of a forceincurred by the touch.

The audio module 170 may convert a sound into an electric signal or viceversa. According to an example embodiment, the audio module 170 mayobtain the sound via the input module 150 or output the sound via thesound output module 155 or an external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102 such as a speaker or a headphone) directly orwirelessly connected to the electronic device 101.

The sensor module 176 may detect an operational state (e.g., power ortemperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state(e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device 101, andgenerate an electric signal or data value corresponding to the detectedstate. According to an example embodiment, the sensor module 176 mayinclude, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmosphericpressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gripsensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, abiometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or anilluminance sensor.

The interface 177 may support one or more specified protocols to be usedfor the electronic device 101 to be coupled with an external electronicdevice (e.g., the electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) orwirelessly. According to an example embodiment, the interface 177 mayinclude, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), auniversal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) cardinterface, or an audio interface.

The connecting terminal 178 may include a connector via which theelectronic device 101 may be physically connected to an externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to anexample embodiment, the connecting terminal 178 may include, forexample, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or anaudio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module 179 may convert an electric signal into a mechanicalstimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or an electrical stimuluswhich may be recognized by a user via his or her tactile sensation orkinesthetic sensation. According to an example embodiment, the hapticmodule 179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element,or an electric stimulator.

The camera module 180 may capture a still image and moving images.According to an example embodiment, the camera module 180 may includeone or more lenses, image sensors, ISPs, or flashes.

The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to theelectronic device 101. According to an example embodiment, the powermanagement module 188 may be implemented as, for example, at least apart of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component of theelectronic device 101. According to an example embodiment, the battery189 may include, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable,a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g.,wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel betweenthe electronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108) andperforming communication via the established communication channel. Thecommunication module 190 may include one or more communicationprocessors that are operable independently of the processor 120 (e.g.,an AP) and that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wirelesscommunication. According to an example embodiment, the communicationmodule 190 may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., acellular communication module, a short-range wireless communicationmodule, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communicationmodule) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a local area network(LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module).A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate withthe external electronic device 104 via the first network 198 (e.g., ashort-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™, wireless-fidelity(Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the secondnetwork 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a legacycellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network,the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a wide area network(WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implementedas a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented asmultiple components (e.g., multi chips) separate from each other. Thewireless communication module 192 may identify and authenticate theelectronic device 101 in a communication network, such as the firstnetwork 198 or the second network 199, using subscriber information(e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in theSIM 196.

The wireless communication module 192 may support a 5G network after a4G network, and a next-generation communication technology, e.g., a newradio (NR) access technology. The NR access technology may supportenhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications(mMTC), or ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). Thewireless communication module 192 may support a high-frequency band(e.g., a mmWave band) to achieve, e.g., a high data transmission rate.The wireless communication module 192 may support various technologiesfor securing performance on a high-frequency band, such as, e.g.,beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), fulldimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), an array antenna, analog beamforming, or alarge scale antenna. The wireless communication module 192 may supportvarious requirements specified in the electronic device 101, an externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 104), or a network system(e.g., the second network 199). According to an example embodiment, thewireless communication module 192 may support a peak data rate (e.g., 20Gbps or more) for implementing eMBB, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB orless) for implementing mMTC, or U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or lessfor each of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or a round trip of 1 ms orless) for implementing URLLC.

The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to orfrom the outside (e.g., an external electronic device) of the electronicdevice 101. According to an example embodiment, the antenna module 197may include an antenna including a radiating element including aconductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate(e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to an exampleembodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas(e.g., array antennas). In such a case, at least one antenna appropriatefor a communication scheme used in a communication network, such as thefirst network 198 or the second network 199, may be selected by, forexample, the communication module 190 from the plurality of antennas.The signal or the power may be transmitted or received between thecommunication module 190 and the external electronic device via the atleast one selected antenna. According to an example embodiment, anothercomponent (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other thanthe radiating element may be additionally formed as a part of theantenna module 197.

According to various example embodiments, the antenna module 197 mayform a mmWave antenna module. According to an example embodiment, themmWave antenna module may include a PCB, an RFIC disposed on a firstsurface (e.g., a bottom surface) of the PCB or adjacent to the firstsurface and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band(e.g., the mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., arrayantennas) disposed on a second surface (e.g., a top or a side surface)of the PCB or adjacent to the second surface and capable of transmittingor receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutuallyand communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via aninter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general-purposeinput and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobileindustry processor interface (MIPI)).

According to an example embodiment, commands or data may be transmittedor received between the electronic device 101 and the externalelectronic device 104 via the server 108 coupled with the second network199. Each of the external electronic devices 102 and 104 may be a deviceof the same type as or a different type from the electronic device 101.

According to an example embodiment, all or some of operations to beexecuted by the electronic device 101 may be executed at one or more ofthe external electronic devices 102, 104, and 108. For example, if theelectronic device 101 needs to perform a function or a serviceautomatically, or in response to a request from a user or anotherdevice, the electronic device 101, instead of, or in addition to,executing the function or the service, may request one or more externalelectronic devices to perform at least a part of the function or theservice. The one or more external electronic devices receiving therequest may perform the at least part of the function or the servicerequested, or an additional function or an additional service related tothe request, and may transfer an outcome of the performing to theelectronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may provide theoutcome, with or without further processing of the outcome, as at leasta part of a reply to the request. To that end, a cloud computing,distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-servercomputing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device 101may provide ultra-low latency services using, e.g., distributedcomputing or mobile edge computing. In an example embodiment, theexternal electronic device 104 may include an Internet-of-things (IoT)device. The server 108 may be an intelligent server using machinelearning and/or a neural network. According to an example embodiment,the external electronic device 104 or the server 108 may be included inthe second network 199. The electronic device 101 may be applied tointelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, orhealthcare) based on 5G communication technology or IoT-relatedtechnology. The external electronic device 104 will be referred tohereinafter as an “external device” and an IoT device will be mainlydescribed as an example of the external device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a foldable electronic device in anunfolded state according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a diagramillustrating a foldable electronic device in a folded state according tovarious embodiments. FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a foldableelectronic device in a fully unfolded state and a partially unfoldedstate (or an intermediate state) according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4A and 4B, an electronic device 200, whichis provided as an example of the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1 , maybe a foldable or bendable electronic device.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, and other following drawings, illustrated is aspatial coordinate system defined by an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axisthat are orthogonal to each other. The X axis indicates a widthdirection of an electronic device, the Y axis indicates a longitudinaldirection of the electronic device, and the Z axis indicates a height(or thickness) direction of the electronic device. In the followingdescription, a first direction may indicate a direction parallel to theZ axis.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , according to an example embodiment, theelectronic device 200 may include a foldable housing 201, and a flexibleor foldable display 250 (hereinafter simply referred to as the “display”250) (e.g., the display module 160 of FIG. 1 ) disposed in a spaceformed by the foldable housing 201. A surface on which the display 250is disposed (or a surface on which the display 250 is viewed from theoutside of the electronic device 200) may be defined as a front surfaceof the electronic device 200. In addition, a surface opposite to thefront surface may be defined as a rear surface of the electronic device200. In addition, a surface surrounding a space between the frontsurface and the rear surface may be defined as a side surface of theelectronic device 200.

The foldable housing 201 may include a first housing structure 210, asecond housing structure 220 including a sensor area 222, a first rearsurface cover 215, a second rear surface cover 225, and a hingestructure 230. The hinge structure 230 may include a hinge cover thatcovers a foldable portion of the foldable housing 201. However, thefoldable housing 201 of the electronic device 200 is not limited to theshape and connection illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , but may beimplemented to have another shape or through a combination and/orconnection of components or parts. For example, the first housingstructure 210 and the first rear surface cover 215 may be integrated,and the second housing structure 220 and the second rear surface cover225 may be integrated.

The first housing structure 210 may be connected to the hinge structure230 and may include a first surface facing a first direction and asecond surface facing a second direction opposite to the firstdirection. The second housing structure 220 may be connected to thehinge structure 230 and may include a third surface facing a thirddirection and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction opposite to thethird direction. The second housing structure 220 may rotate withrespect to the first housing structure 210 about the hinge structure230. A state of the electronic device 200 may be changed to a foldedstate or an unfolded state.

The first surface and the third surface may meet when the electronicdevice 200 is in a fully folded state (e.g., a state in which theelectronic device 200 is fully folded), and the third direction and thefirst direction are the same when the electronic device 200 is in afully unfolded state (e.g., a state in which the electronic device 200is fully unfolded).

The first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 maybe disposed on both sides with respect to a folding axis A, and may beoverall symmetrical with respect to the folding axis A. As to bedescribed later, an angle or distance between the first housingstructure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may vary according towhether the state of the electronic device 200 is the unfolded state,the folded state, or a partially unfolded or folded state (or anintermediate state). Unlike the first housing structure 210, the secondhousing structure 220 may additionally include the sensor area 222 inwhich various sensors are disposed. However, apart from such an area,the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 maybe symmetrical in other areas.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the first housing structure 210 and thesecond housing structure 220 may together form a recess thataccommodates therein the display 250. Due to the sensor area 222, therecess may have at least two different widths in a directionperpendicular to the folding axis A. For example, the recess may have afirst width W1 between a first portion 210 a of the first housingstructure 210 parallel to the folding axis A and a first portion 220 aof the second housing structure 220 formed on a periphery of the sensorarea 222, and a second width W2 formed by a second portion 210 b of thefirst housing structure 210 and a second portion 220 b of the secondhousing structure 220 that is not the sensor area 222 and is parallel tothe folding axis A. In this example, the second width W2 may be greaterthan the first width W1. The first portion 220 a and the second portion220 b of the second housing structure 220 may be at different distancesfrom the folding axis A. However, the width of the recess is not limitedto the example widths. For example, the recess may have a plurality ofwidths according to the shape of the sensor area 222 or an asymmetricalportion of the first housing structure 210 and the second housingstructure 220. The sensor area 222 may be formed to have a predeterminedarea adjacent to one corner of the second housing structure 220.However, the arrangement, shape, and size of the sensor area 222 are notlimited to the illustrated example. For another example, the sensor area222 may be provided at another corner of the second housing structure220 or in an area between an upper corner and a lower corner. Componentsembedded in the electronic device 200 to perform various functions maybe exposed to the front surface of the electronic device 200 through thesensor area 222 or through one or more openings provided in the sensorarea 222. The components may include various types of sensors. Thesensors may include, for example, at least one of a front camera, areceiver, or a proximity sensor. According to other example embodiments,the sensor area 222 may not be included in the second housing structure220 or may be formed at a position different from the illustratedposition.

At least a portion of the first housing structure 210 and the secondhousing structure 220 may be formed of a metal material or non-metalmaterial having rigidity of a selected magnitude to support the display250. The portion formed of the metal material may provide a ground planefor the electronic device 200, and may be electrically connected to aground line formed on a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed inside thefoldable housing 201. The first rear surface cover 215 may be disposedon one side of the folding axis A on the rear surface of the electronicdevice 200, and may have, for example, a substantially rectangularperiphery that is surrounded by the first housing structure 210.Similarly, the second rear surface cover 225 may be disposed on theother side of the folding axis A on the rear surface of the electronicdevice 200, and may have a periphery that is surrounded by the secondhousing structure 220.

The first rear surface cover 215 and the second rear surface cover 225may be substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis A.However, the first rear surface cover 215 and the second rear surfacecover 225 are not necessarily symmetrical, but the electronic device 200may include a first rear surface cover and a second rear surface coverof various shapes. According to another example embodiment, the firstrear surface cover 215 may be integrated with the first housingstructure 210, and the second rear surface cover 225 may be integratedwith the second housing structure 220.

The first rear surface cover 215, the second rear surface cover 225, thefirst housing structure 210, and the second housing structure 220 mayform a space in which various components (e.g., a PCB or a battery) ofthe electronic device 200 are disposed. According to an exampleembodiment, one or more components may be disposed or visually exposedon the rear surface of the electronic device 200. For example, at leasta portion of a sub-display may be visually exposed (e.g., visible)through a first rear area 216 of the first rear surface cover 215.According to another example embodiment, one or more components orsensors may be visually exposed through a second rear area 226 of thesecond rear surface cover 225. The sensors may include a proximitysensor and/or a rear camera.

A front camera exposed to the front surface of the electronic device 200through one or more openings provided in the sensor area 222 or a rearcamera exposed through the second rear area 226 of the second rearsurface cover 225 may include one or more lenses, an image sensor,and/or an image signal processor (ISP). A flash may include, forexample, a light-emitting diode (LED) or a xenon lamp. According to someexample embodiments, two or more lenses (infrared (IR) camera, andwide-angle and telephoto lenses) and image sensors may be disposed onone surface of the electronic device 100.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the hinge cover may be disposed between the firsthousing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 to coverinternal components (e.g., the hinge structure 230). The hinge structure230 may be covered by a portion of the first housing structure 210 andthe second housing structure 220, or may be exposed to the outside,according to the state of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the unfoldedstate, the intermediate state, or the folded state).

For example, when the electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state(e.g., the fully unfolded state) as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the hingestructure 230 may be covered by the first housing structure 210 and thesecond housing structure 220 not to be exposed. For another example,when the electronic device 200 is in the folded state (e.g., the fullyfolded state) as illustrated in FIG. 3 , the hinge structure 230 may beexposed to the outside, being between the first housing structure 210and the second housing structure 220. For still another example, whenthe electronic device 200 is in the intermediate state with a certainangle formed between the first housing structure 210 and the secondhousing structure 220, the hinge structure 230 may be partially exposedto the outside, being between the first housing structure 210 and thesecond housing structure 220. In this example, an exposed area may besmaller than an area exposed in the fully folded state. The hingestructure 230 may include a curved surface.

The display 250 may be disposed in a space formed by the foldablehousing 201. For example, the display 250 may be seated on the recessformed by the foldable housing 201 and be viewed from the outsidethrough the front surface of the electronic device 200. For example, thedisplay 250 may form a most portion of the front surface of theelectronic device 200. Accordingly, the front surface of the electronicdevice 200 may include the display 250, and a partial area of the firsthousing structure 210 and a partial area of the second housing structure220 that are adjacent to the display 250. In addition, the rear surfaceof the electronic device 200 may include the first rear surface cover215, a partial area of the first housing structure 210 adjacent to thefirst rear surface cover 215, the second rear surface cover 225, and apartial area of the second housing structure 220 adjacent to the secondrear surface cover 225.

The display 250 may be a display of which at least one area isdeformable into a planar surface or a curved surface. The display 250may include a folding area 253, a first area 251 disposed on one side ofthe folding area 253 (e.g., on the left side of the folding area 253 inFIG. 2 ), and a second area 252 disposed on the other side of thefolding area 253 (e.g., on the right side of the folding area 253 inFIG. 2 ).

However, such an area division of the display 250 as illustrated in FIG.2 is provided merely as an example, and the display 250 may be dividedinto a plurality of areas (e.g., two areas or four or more areas)according to a structure or functions thereof. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 2 , the display 250 may be divided into areas basedon the folding area 203 extending in parallel to the folding axis A. Foranother example, the display 250 may be divided into areas based onanother folding axis (e.g., a folding axis parallel to the widthdirection of the electronic device 200).

The display 250 may be combined with or disposed adjacent to a touchpanel including a touch sensing circuit and a pressure sensor configuredto measure the intensity (or pressure) of a touch. For example, for thetouch panel, the display 250 may be coupled to or disposed adjacent tothe touch panel for detecting a stylus pen of an electromagneticresonance (EMR) type.

The first area 251 and the second area 252 may be overall symmetricalwith respect to the folding area 253. Unlike the first area 251, thesecond area 252 may include a notch cut according to the presence of thesensor area 222, but may be symmetrical to the first area 251 in theother areas except for such an area. That is, the first area 251 and thesecond area 252 may include mutually symmetrical portions and mutuallyasymmetrical portions.

The first area 251 and the second area 252 may each have an edgethickness different from an edge thickness of the folding area 253. Theedge thickness of the folding area 253 may be less than the edgethickness of the first area 251 and the second area 252. For example,when cross-sectionally viewed, the first area 251 and the second area252 may be asymmetrical in terms of thickness. For example, an edge ofthe first area 251 may be formed to have a first radius of curvature,and an edge of the second area 252 may be formed to have a second radiusof curvature different from the first radius of curvature. For anotherexample, when cross-sectionally viewed, the first area 251 and thesecond area 252 may be symmetrical in terms of thickness.

Hereinafter, each area of the display 250 and operations of the firsthousing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 will bedescribed in relation to the state of the electronic device 200, forexample, the folded state, the unfolded state, or the intermediatestate.

When the electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state as illustratedin FIG. 2 , the first housing structure 210 and the second housingstructure 220 may be disposed to face the same direction with an angleof 180° formed therebetween. The surfaces of the first area 251 and thesecond area 252 of the display 250 may form the angle of 180° and facethe same direction (e.g., a direction of the front surface of theelectronic device 200). The folding area 253 may form the same planealong with the first area 251 and the second area 252.

When the electronic device 200 is in the folded state as illustrated inFIG. 3 , the first housing structure 210 and the second housingstructure 220 may be disposed to face each other. The surfaces of thefirst area 251 and the second area 252 of the display 250 may face eachother with a narrow angle (e.g., an angle between 0° and 10°) formedtherebetween. In this case, the folding area 253 may be formed to have acurved surface having a predetermined curvature, in at least a portionthereof.

When the electronic device 200 is in the intermediate state, the firsthousing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may bedisposed with a certain angle therebetween. The surfaces of the firstarea 251 and the second area 252 of the display 250 may form an anglethat is greater than an angle formed therebetween in the folded stateand less than an angle formed therebetween in the unfolded state. Inthis case, the folding area 253 may be formed to have a curved surfacehaving a predetermined curvature, in at least a portion thereof. Thecurvature may be less than that formed in the folded state.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an electronic device in a fullyunfolded state according to various example embodiments, and 4B is aperspective view of an electronic device in a partially unfolded state(or an intermediate state) according to various example embodiments. Asdescribed above, a state of the electronic device 200 may be changed toa folded state or an unfolded state, for example. When viewed in adirection of a folding axis (e.g., an A axis in FIG. 2 ), the electronicdevice 200 may be folded in two manners—in-folding allowing the frontsurface of the electronic device 200 to form an acute angle andout-folding allowing the front surface of the electronic device 200 toform an obtuse angle. That is, the electronic device 200 of a foldabletype may be classified into an in-folding type device that is foldedthrough the in-folding and an out-folding type device that is foldedthrough the out-folding. For example, when the electronic device 200 isin a state in which the electronic device 200 is folded through thein-folding, the first surface of the first housing structure 210 and thethird surface of the second housing structure 220 may meet (or face)each other. When the electronic device 200 is a fully unfolded state,the first surface of the first housing structure 210 and the thirdsurface of the second housing structure 220 may face the same direction(e.g., a direction parallel to a Z axis).

For example, when the electronic device 200 is in a state in which theelectronic device 200 is folded through the out-folding, the secondsurface of the first housing structure 210 and the fourth surface of thesecond housing structure 220 may meet (or face) each other.

In addition, although not illustrated, the electronic device 200 mayinclude a plurality of hinge axes (e.g., two parallel hinge axesincluding the A axis in FIG. 2 and another axis parallel to the A axis).In this case, the electronic device 200 may be folded throughmulti-folding which is a combination of the in-folding and theout-folding.

An in-folding type described herein may indicate a state in which thedisplay 250 is not visible to the outside in a fully folded state, andan out-folding type described herein may indicate a state in which thedisplay 250 is visible to the outside in the fully folded state. FIG. 4Billustrates the electronic device 200 that is partially unfolded in theprocess of the in-folding, for example, in an intermediate state.

Although the state in which the electronic device 200 is folded throughthe in-folding will be mainly described as an example hereinafter, thefollowing description may also be applicable to the state in which theelectronic device 200 is folded through the out-folding.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram 500 illustrating an example configuration of adisplay module according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a display module 160 (e.g., the display module 160of FIG. 1 ) may include a display 510 (e.g., the display 250 of FIG. 2 )and a display driver integrated circuit (IC) (DDI) 530 configured tocontrol the display 510. The DDI 530 may include an interface module(e.g., including interface circuitry) 531, a memory 533 (e.g., a buffermemory), an image processing module (e.g., including various processingcircuitry and/or executable program instructions) 535, and/or a mappingmodule (e.g., including various processing circuitry and/or executableprogram instructions) 537. For example, the DDI 530 may receive imagedata or image information including an image control signalcorresponding to a command for controlling the image data from anothercomponent of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101 ofFIG. 1 or the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 2 through 4B) through theinterface module 531. For example, the image information may be receivedfrom a main processor (e.g., the main processor 121 of FIG. 1 orapplication processor) or an auxiliary processor (e.g., the auxiliaryprocessor 123 of FIG. 1 or a graphics processing unit (GPU)) operatedindependently of functions of the main processor. The DDI 530 maycommunicate with a touch circuit 550 or a sensor module (e.g., includingat least one sensor) 176 (e.g., the sensor module 176 of FIG. 1 )through the interface module 531. In addition, the DDI 530 may store atleast a portion of the received image information in the memory 533 in aframe unit, for example. The image processing module 535 may performpre-processing or post-processing (e.g., resolution, brightness, or sizeadjustment) on at least a portion of the image data based on at leastone of a characteristic of the image data or a characteristic of thedisplay 510. The mapping module 537 may generate a voltage or currentvalue corresponding to the image data obtained through thepre-processing or the post-processing performed through the imageprocessing module 535. For example, the generation of the voltage orcurrent value may be performed based on at least a portion ofcharacteristics of pixels (e.g., an arrangement (red, green, blue [RGB]stripe or pentile structure) of the pixels, or a size of each sub-pixel)of the display 510. As at least a portion of the pixels of the display510 is operated based on at least a portion of the voltage or currentvalue, visual information (e.g., text, image, or icon) corresponding tothe image data may be displayed through the display 510.

The display module 160 may further include the touch circuit 550. Thetouch circuit 550 may include a touch sensor 551 and a touch sensor IC553 configured to control the touch sensor 551. For example, the touchsensor IC 553 may control the touch sensor 551 to sense a touch input ora hovering input at a specific position on the display 510. In thisexample, the touch sensor IC 553 may sense the touch input or thehovering input by measuring a change in a signal (e.g., voltage,intensity of light, resistance, or quantity of electric charges) at aspecific position on the display 510. The touch sensor IC 553 mayprovide a processor (e.g., the processor 120 of FIG. 1 ) withinformation (e.g., position, size, pressure, or time) associated withthe sensed touch input or hovering input. At least a portion of thetouch circuit 550 (e.g., the touch sensor IC 553) may be included as aportion of the DDI 530 or the display 510, or as a portion of anothercomponent (e.g., the auxiliary processor 123) disposed outside thedisplay module 160.

The display module 160 may further include at least one sensor (e.g., afingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, a pressure sensor, and anilluminance sensor) of the sensor module 176, or a control circuit forthe sensor. In this case, the sensor or the control circuit may beembedded in a portion (e.g., the display 510 or the DDI 530) of thedisplay module 160 or a portion of the touch circuit 550. For example,when the sensor module 176 embedded in the display module 160 includes abiosensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor), the biosensor may obtainbioinformation (e.g., a fingerprint image) associated with a touch inputthrough a partial region of the display 510. For another example, whenthe sensor module 176 embedded in the display module 160 includes apressure sensor, the pressure sensor may obtain pressure informationassociated with a touch input through a partial or entire region of thedisplay 510. The touch sensor 551 or the sensor module 176 may bearranged between pixels of a pixel layer of the display 510, or on orunder the pixel layer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of anelectronic device performing screen control according to variousembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6 , an electronic device 101 (e.g., the electronicdevice 101 of FIG. 1 or the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 2 through 4B)may include a display 610 (e.g., the display module 160 of FIG. 1 , thedisplay 250 of FIG. 2 , the display 250 of FIGS. 4A and 4B, or thedisplay 160 of FIG. 5 ) and a processor (e.g., including processingcircuitry) 120 (e.g., the processor 120 of FIG. 1 ). The display 610 mayoutput a screen, and the processor 120 may be operatively connected tothe display 610 and control the screen displayed on the display 610.

The screen displayed on the display 610 of the electronic device 10 mayinclude one or more windows. A window described herein may refer to acertain region onto which information associated with the execution offunctions of the electronic device 101 is output. The information mayinclude various screen elements associated with the execution offunctions. The information may include, for example, at least one of atext, a still image or moving image (or video), an icon, a virtual keybutton, a slide bar, a progress bar, a list item, a thumbnail item, andother various items.

The windows may include an execution window of a program (e.g., theprogram 140 of FIG. 1 ) run by the electronic device 101 or anapplication (or app) (e.g., the application 146 of FIG. 1 ). Theexecution window of an app may correspond to a predetermined region ofthe display 610 displaying a screen output as the app is executed on theelectronic device 101. Hereinafter, an execution window of an app willbe described as an example of a window included in a screen displayed onthe display 610.

The processor 120 of the electronic device 101 may support amulti-window function that displays execution windows of one or moreapps through the display 610. The multi-window function may beimplemented using a pop-up window and/or split window, for example.

The pop-up window may correspond to an execution window of another app(e.g., a second app) overlaid on a homescreen or a screen including anexecution window of a specific app (e.g., a first app). For example, asillustrated in FIG. 7A, a first screen 702 including an execution windowof a first app may be displayed on an upper layer of a homescreen 701.The execution window of the first app may be displayed in the form of afull screen on the first screen 702. An execution window of a second appmay be displayed as a pop-up window 703 on an upper layer of the firstscreen 702.

The split window may correspond to an execution window of an appdisplayed on a partial region in a screen generated through screensplitting. The screen generated through screen splitting, or a splitscreen, may include a plurality of split windows, and the split windowsmay be arranged in the screen based on a layout of the split screen. Thesplit windows included in the split screen may have the same layerlevel. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, a split screen 712including two split windows may be displayed on an upper layer of ahomescreen 711. An execution window of a first app and an executionwindow of a second app may be displayed in the form of split windows inrespective regions of the split screen 712.

Referring back to FIG. 6 , the processor 120 may verify a trigger regionin a screen (e.g., a first screen including a window of a first app or asplit screen including execution windows of apps) displayed on thedisplay 610. The trigger region may be a region preset in the screen todetermine whether to readjust a layout of the screen. For example, apartial region at an upper end of the screen, at a lower end of thescreen, on a left side of the screen, and/or on a right side of thescreen may be defined as the trigger region. In addition, whether toreadjust the layout of the screen may be determined using a trigger linein lieu of the trigger region. For example, the electronic device 101may define and use, as the trigger line, a single boundary line or atleast two boundary lines of the trigger region. In this example, thedefinition or functions of the trigger region may be replaced with thoseof the trigger line. Although the trigger region for screen splittingwill be mainly described hereinafter for the convenience of description,examples are not limited thereto, and operations and functions accordingto the following description may also be implemented based on thetrigger line.

The trigger region may be verified (or determined) based on the layoutof the screen. For example, the trigger region may be verified based onwhether the screen is a split screen and/or on a splitting direction ofthe screen. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, when the screen isnot a split screen but a screen including an execution window of asingle app, the trigger region may be defined by a partial region at anupper end, at a lower end, on a left side, and on a right side of thescreen. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the screen is asplit screen including a plurality of windows and a splitting directionis a left-right direction, the trigger region may be defined by apartial region at an upper end and at a lower end of the screen. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, when the screen is a split screenand the splitting direction is a top-bottom direction, the triggerregion may be defined by a partial region on a left side and on a rightside of the screen. In addition, at least one trigger line which is aboundary of each trigger region may be defined.

Referring back to FIG. 6 , a position of a pop-up window may becontrolled by an input from a user input through the display 610 or aninput device of the electronic device 101. For example, the position ofthe pop-up window on the screen may be controlled in response to aposition at which the pop-up window is dragged by a user input draggingthe pop-up window. Hereinafter, a user input controlling a position of apop-up window will be referred to as a first user input.

The first user input may include an input controlling a handle region ofthe pop-up window. The handle region may be a partial region in thepop-up window, and correspond to a region related to controlling thepop-up window. For example, the handle region may include a region inthe pop-up window that is predetermined for controlling a position ofthe pop-up window. The predetermined region of the handle region mayhave a preset size and shape, and a position disposed in the pop-upwindow. For example, the handle region may be defined as a partialregion at an upper end of the pop-up window, and be displayed as avisual representation (or indicator) through a display. In this example,the visual representation may be displayed in various forms: a displayregion of the visual representation may be displayed on a region of thedisplay substantially the same as the handle region or displayed suchthat at least a portion thereof is overlapped even though the displayregion of the visual representation is not matched to the handle region.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, a partial region in a screen maybe defined as a handle region 801, and the handle region 801 may bedisplayed in the form of a bar through a display. The handle region 801may correspond to a specific line corresponding to a bar displayed on ascreen or a specific region including the bar displayed on the screen.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when a split window includingexecution windows of apps is displayed on the display, partial regionsof the respective execution windows may be defined as handle regions 802and 803, and the handle regions 802 and 803 may be displayed in the formof bars on the respective execution windows.

For another example, the handle region may be determined based on aregion in the pop-up window receiving the first user input. For example,when the first user input touching the pop-up window is received, apartial region (or a point) in the pop-up window receiving such a touchinput may be determined to be the handle region (or a handle point). Inaddition, a center point of the touch input corresponding to the firstuser input or one point in the partial region receiving the touch inputmay be used as a handle point to replace the handle region. In addition,although the handle region may have a preset size and shape, a positionof the handle region may not be determined until the first user input isreceived. For example, the position of the handle region may be definedsuch that the partial region (or point) receiving the touch inputcorresponding to the first user input touching the pop-up window isdisposed at a position (e.g., center) of the handle region having thepreset size and shape. In this example, the handle region and the pop-upwindow may move along a touch position according to a movement of a dragcorresponding to the first user input. For example, referring to FIG.8C, a specific region receiving a touch input made by a first user inputtouching the specific region on an execution window B of a first appdisplayed on a display may be defined as a handle region 804, and avisual representation provided in the form of a bar for displaying aposition of the defined handle region 804 may be displayed on theexecution window B of the first app. Hereinafter, an example where ahandle region is a partial region preset at an upper end of a pop-upwindow will be described for the convenience of description.

According to an example embodiment, the processor 120 may detect whetherat least a portion of the determined trigger region is overlaid with thepop-up window. For example, when at least a portion of a region of adisplay on which the pop-up window is displayed and at least a portionin the display corresponding to the trigger region are overlapped, theprocessor 120 may detect that at least a portion of the trigger regionis overlaid with the pop-up window. Based on the first user inputcontrolling the position of the pop-up window, the position of thepop-up window may be changed in the screen, and the processor 120 maydetect whether at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaid withthe pop-up window.

For example, in a switch mode, the processor 120 may detect such anoverlay of the trigger region. The switch mode may refer to a mode inwhich an operation of changing a layout of a screen is performed toarrange a pop-up window, and be executed in response to an input from auser requesting the execution of the switch mode. Such a user inputrequesting the execution of the switch mode may be predefined as aninput that is distinguished from the first user input. For example, aninput pushing the handle region of the pop-up window relatively longermay be defined as the input requesting the execution of the switch mode,and the switch mode may be executed when the input pushing the handleregion of the pop-up window for long is received.

When detecting that at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaidwith the pop-up window, the processor 120 may adjust the layout of thescreen based on at least one of a position of the portion of the triggerregion overlaid with the pop-up window and a relative position of thehandle region and a divider of the layout of the screen. The adjustingof the layout of the screen may include splitting the screen andarranging windows in respective regions of the split screen, and/ordetermining a window to be downsized among one or more windows includedin the screen and determining a downsizing direction of the window.

For example, the processor 120 may split the screen including anexecution window of a first app based on the position of the portion ofthe trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window. The position of theportion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window may referto a position of this overlaid trigger region on the screen, andindicate whether the overlaid trigger region is disposed at an upper endor at a lower end of the screen, or on a left side or on a right side ofthe screen. For example, the processor 120 may determine a splittingdirection of the screen based on the position of the overlaid triggerregion, and split the screen in the determined splitting direction. Theprocessor 120 may split the screen such that the screen includes aplurality of regions, and display a region in which the pop-up window isto be disposed among the regions. The splitting of a screen based on aposition of an overlaid trigger region will be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 9 and 10 .

According to an example embodiment, the processor 120 may change alayout of the split screen based on the position of the trigger regionoverlaid with the pop-up window and a relative position of the handleregion and a divider of the layout. The layout of the split screen mayinclude the divider which is a reference line that splits the screen.The split screen may include a plurality of regions obtained bysplitting the screen by the divider. For example, the processor 120 maydetermine a downsizing direction of windows included in the split screenbased on the position of the overlaid trigger region. For example, theprocessor 120 may determine at least one window to be downsized amongthe windows included in the split screen based on the relative positionof the handle region and the divider of the layout. The processor 120may change the layout of the split screen by downsizing, in thedetermined downsizing direction, the window determined as the window tobe downsized, and display a region in the split screen in which thepop-up window is to be arranged based on the changed layout of the splitscreen. For example, as the window is downsized, a new region may begenerated in the split screen, and the new region generated in the splitscreen may be displayed as the region in which the pop-up window is tobe arranged. The adjusting of a layout of a split screen based on atleast one of a position of an overlaid trigger region and a relativeposition of a handle region and a divider of the layout will bedescribed in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 11A through 14.

According to an example embodiment, based on a second user inputdetermining a position of the pop-up window, the processor 120 mayarrange the pop-up window in a region in which the pop-up window is tobe arranged on a screen displayed on the display 610 (e.g., a firstscreen including a window of a first app or a split screen includingexecution windows of a plurality of apps). For example, when the firstuser input is an input dragging the pop-up window, the second user inputmay correspond to an input releasing the pop-up window.

When the pop-up window is arranged on a specific screen, a layer levelthereof may be changed to the same layer level as a layer level of thescreen on which the pop-up window is arranged. For example, when thepop-up window is arranged on a first screen including a window of afirst app, a layer level of an execution window of a second appdisplayed as the pop-up window may be changed to be the same as a layerlevel of the execution window of the first app included in the firstscreen. For another example, when the pop-up window is arranged on asplit screen including execution windows of a plurality of apps, a layerlevel of an execution window of an app displayed as the pop-up windowmay be changed to be the same as a layer level of the execution windowsof the apps included in the split screen.

According to an example embodiment, the electronic device 101 mayinclude the display 610 configured to output a screen and the processor120 operatively connected to the display 610 and configured to controlthe screen displayed on the display 610. The processor 120 may verify atrigger region in a screen including an execution window of a first appbeing run, detect that at least a portion of the trigger region isoverlaid with a pop-up window based on a first user input controlling aposition of the pop-up window displayed on an upper layer of the screen,split the screen including the execution window of the first app basedon a position of the overlaid trigger region, and display a region inthe split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.

When splitting the screen, the processor 120 may determine a splittingdirection of the screen based on the position of the overlaid triggerregion and split the screen based on the determined splitting direction.

According to an example embodiment, the electronic device 101 mayinclude the display 610 configured to output a screen, and the processor120 operatively connected to the display 610 and configured to controlthe screen displayed on the display 610. The processor 120 may verify atrigger region in a split screen based on a layout of the split screendisplayed on the display 610, detect that at least a portion of thetrigger region is overlaid with a pop-up window based on a first userinput controlling a handle region of the pop-up window displayed on anupper layer of the split screen, change a layout of the split screenbased on at least one of a position of the trigger region overlaid withthe pop-up window and a relative position of a handle region and adivider of the layout, and display a region in the split screen in whichthe pop-up window is to be arranged based on the changed layout of thesplit screen.

When changing the layout of the split screen, the processor 120 maydetermine a downsizing direction of windows included in the split screenbased on the position of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-upwindow, and determine at least one window to be downsized among thewindows included in the split screen based on the relative position ofthe handle region and the divider of the layout.

FIGS. 9 through 15B are diagrams illustrating examples of one or moreoperations of a method of controlling a screen displayed on a display ofan electronic device, which is performed by a processor, according tovarious example embodiments. In the examples of FIGS. 9 through 15B, theelectronic device may correspond to the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1, the electronic device 200 of FIGS. 2 through 4B, or the electronicdevice 101 of FIG. 6 . In addition, the display may correspond to thedisplay module 160 of FIG. 1 , the display 250 of FIG. 2 , the display250 of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the display module 160 of FIG. 5 , or thedisplay 610 of FIG. 6 . In addition, the processor may correspond to theprocessor 120 of FIG. 1 or the processor 120 of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of splitting a screenaccording to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a screen 910 displayed on the display of theelectronic device may include a screen including an execution window ofa first app run by the electronic device and a pop-up window displayedon an upper layer of the screen including the execution window of thefirst app. Hereinafter, the screen including the execution window of thefirst app will be referred to as a first screen. For example, theexecution window of the first app may be displayed as a full screen onthe first screen. For example, the pop-up window may correspond to anexecution window of a second app. As described above, a partial regionof the first screen may be determined to be a trigger region.

As described above, a position of the pop-up window may be changed basedon a first user input controlling the position of the pop-up window. Forexample, the first user input controlling the position of the pop-upwindow may include a first user input touching and dragging a handleregion 901, and the position of the pop-up window in the screen may bechanged by the first user input dragging the handle region 901. Forexample, the position of the pop-up window may be changed as shown on ascreen 920 when the handle region 901 is dragged and moved rightward bythe first user input, and be changed as shown on a screen 930 when thehandle region 901 is dragged and moved upward by the first user input.In this example, when the position of the pop-up window is changed asshown on the screen 920 or the screen 930 based on the first user input,a partial region of the pop-up window may overlap a partial region ofthe trigger region, and thus the processor may detect that at least aportion of the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window.

When the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window, theprocessor may split the first screen. In such a case, a screen splittingdirection may be determined based on a position of the overlaid triggerregion in the first region. For example, when the position of theoverlaid trigger region is on a right side of the first screen as shownon the screen 920, the splitting direction may be determined to be aleft-right direction. For another example, when the position of theoverlaid trigger region is at an upper end of the first screen as shownon the screen 930, the splitting direction of the first screen may bedetermined to be a top-bottom direction. Although not illustrated inFIG. 9 , when the position of the overlaid trigger region is on a leftside of the first screen, the splitting direction of the first screenmay be determined to the left-right direction. In addition, when theposition of the overlaid trigger region is at a lower end of the firstscreen, the splitting direction of the first screen may be determined tobe the top-bottom direction.

As the first screen is split in the determined splitting direction, thenumber of regions included in the first screen may increase. When thefirst screen is split, the execution window of the first app previouslyincluded in the first screen may be arranged in a first region which isany one of the regions obtained through the splitting, and a secondregion different from the first region among the regions may bedisplayed as a region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged. Theregion in which the execution window of the first app is to be arrangedmay be determined based on the position of the trigger region overlaidwith the pop-up window.

For example, when the position of the overlaid trigger region is on aright side as shown on a screen 940, the region in which the executionwindow of the first app is to be arranged may be determined to be a leftregion among regions obtained through left-right splitting, and a rightregion may be displayed as the region in which the pop-up window is tobe arranged. Although not illustrated in FIG. 9 , when the position ofthe overlaid trigger region is on a left side, the execution window ofthe first app may be determined to be a right region among the regionsobtained through the left-right splitting, and a left region may bedisplayed as the region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.

For another example, when the position of the overlaid trigger region isat an upper end as shown on a screen 950, the region in which theexecution window of the first app is to be arranged may be determined tobe a lower end region among regions obtained through top-bottomsplitting, and an upper end region may be displayed as the region inwhich the pop-up window is to be arranged. Although not illustrated inFIG. 9 , when the position of the overlaid trigger region is at a lowerend, the execution window of the first app may be determined to be anupper end region among the regions obtained through the top-bottomsplitting, and a lower end region may be displayed as the region inwhich the pop-up window is to be arranged.

When the second user input determining the position of the pop-up windowis received, the pop-up window may be arranged in a region in the firstscreen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged as shown on a screen960 or a screen 970. For example, the arranging of the pop-up window inthe first screen may include arranging, in the first screen, anexecution window of the second app displayed as the pop-up window, anddeleting the pop-up window.

For example, when the first user input is an input dragging the pop-upwindow, the second user input may correspond to an input releasing thepop-up window. When the pop-up window is arranged on the first screen, alayer level of the execution window of the second app displayed as thepop-up window may be changed to be the same as a layer level of theexecution window of the first app included in the first screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling ascreen displayed on a display of an electronic device according tovarious embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 10 , a method of controlling a screen displayed on adisplay of an electronic device may include operation 1010 of verifyinga trigger region in the screen including an execution window of a firstapp run by the electronic device, operation 1020 of detecting that atleast a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with a pop-up windowbased on a first user input controlling a position of the pop-up windowdisplayed on an upper layer of the screen, operation 1030 of splittingthe screen including the execution window of the first app based on aposition of the overlaid portion of the trigger region, and operation1040 of displaying a region in the split screen in which the pop-upwindow is to be arranged.

Operation 1030 of splitting the screen may include determining asplitting direction of the screen based on the position of the overlaidportion of the trigger region, and splitting the screen based on thedetermined splitting direction.

Operation 1040 of displaying the region in which the pop-up window is tobe arranged may include arranging the execution window of the first appin a first region in the split screen based on the position of theoverlaid portion of the trigger region, and displaying a second regionin the split screen as the region in which the pop-up window is to bearranged.

The screen may include the execution window of the first app run by theelectronic device, and the pop-up window may include an execution windowof a second app run by the electronic device.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D (which may be referred to as FIGS. 11Athrough 11D) are diagrams illustrating examples of determining adownsizing direction of windows included in a split screen according tovarious embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 11A, a screen 1110 displayed on a display of anelectronic device may include a split screen 1111 including an executionwindow of at least one app and a pop-up window 1112 displayed on anupper layer of the split screen 1111. For example, the split screen 1111may include an execution window of a first app and an execution windowof a second app. For example, the pop-up window 1112 may correspond toan execution window of a third app.

As described above, a position of the pop-up window 1112 may be changedbased on a first user input controlling a position of the pop-up window1112. For example, by the first user input that drags a handle region1101 upward on the split screen 1111, the position of the pop-up window1112 may be changed to an upper end of the split screen 1111. Aprocessor (e.g., the processor 120 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 6 ) of theelectronic device may detect whether at least a portion of a triggerregion is overlaid with the pop-up window 1112. For example, when atleast a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with a pop-up window,the processor may determine a downsizing direction of a window includedin a split screen based on a position of the overlaid trigger region.For example, the downsizing direction of the window included in thesplit screen may be determined to be a direction opposite to theposition of the overlaid trigger region in the split screen. Forexample, when the position of the portion of the trigger region overlaidwith the pop-up window 1112 is at an upper end of the split screen 1111as illustrated, a downsizing direction of a window included in the splitscreen 1111 may be determined to be a downward direction.

Referring to FIG. 11B, a position of a pop-up window 1122 may be changedto a lower end of a split screen 1121 by a first user input that drags ahandle region 1102 downward on the split screen 1121. When a position ofa trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window 1122 corresponds to alower end of the split screen 1121, a downsizing direction of a windowincluded in the split screen 1121 may be determined to be an upwarddirection.

Referring to FIG. 11C, a position of a pop-up window 1132 may be changedto be on a left side of a split screen 1131 by a first user input thatdrags a handle region 1103 leftward on the split screen 1131. When aposition of a trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window 1132corresponds to the left side of the split screen 1131, a downsizingdirection of a window included in the split screen 1131 may bedetermined to be a right direction.

Referring to FIG. 11D, a position of a pop-up window 1142 may be changedto be on a right side of a split screen 1141 by a first user input thatdrags a handle region 1104 rightward on the split screen 1141. When aposition of a trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window 1142corresponds to the right side of the split screen 1141, a downsizingdirection of a window included in the split screen 1141 may bedetermined to be a left direction.

FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C (which may be referred to as FIGS. 12A through12C) are diagrams illustrating an example of determining a window to bedownsized among windows included in a split screen according to variousembodiments.

A divider may refer to a reference line for splitting a screen asdescribed above. For example, a line 1201 illustrated in FIG. 12A, aline 1202 illustrated in FIG. 12B, and a line 1203 illustrated in FIG.12C may correspond to such a divider of a layout of a split screen.

According to an example embodiment, a window to be downsized amongwindows included in a split screen may be determined based on a relativeposition of a handle region and a divider. As described above, thehandle region may correspond to a partial region of a pop-up window,which may be a region related to controlling the pop-up window. Thehandle region may be determined to be a region preset in the pop-upwindow, and be determined based on a region in the pop-up windowreceiving a first user input. The relative position between the handleregion of the pop-up window and the divider may be determined based on adirection in which the handle region is disposed with respect to thedivider and a distance by which the handle region is separate from thedivider based on x or y coordinate in the screen. For example, therelative position with respect to the divider may be determined based ona position of a reference point included in the handle region.

For example, referring to FIG. 12A, when a screen 1210 is represented asan xy plane with a left upper end (0, 0) and a right lower end (W, H), awindow to be downsized may be determined based on an x coordinate of ahandle region with respect to an x coordinate of the divider 1201. Inthis example, when the x coordinate of the handle region is greater thanor equal to 0 and less than a value obtained by subtracting ‘a’ (e.g., adenotes a preset constant greater than 0) from the x coordinate of thedivider 1201 (e.g., x coordinate of the divider 1201−a), a processor maydetermine a window 1211 to be the window to be downsized. When the xcoordinate of the handle region is greater than or equal to the valueobtained by subtracting ‘a’ from the x coordinate of the divider 1201(e.g., x coordinate of the divider 1201−a) and less than a valueobtained by adding ‘a’ to the x coordinate of the divider 1201 (e.g., xcoordinate of the divider 1201+a), the processor may determine a window1212 to be the window to be downsized. However, in the case of a splitscreen that is obtained through top-bottom splitting, the processor maydetermine the window to be downsized by comparing a y coordinate of adivider and a y coordinate of a handle region.

For example, a value of ‘a’ may be determined as an arbitrary fixedvalue, or determined based on a width or height of a screen. The valueof ‘a’ may be determined based on a size of a touch region receiving atouch input from a user.

According to an example embodiment, at least one window to be downsizedin a split screen may be determined based on whether a position of ahandle region is included in a sub-trigger region determined based on adivider of a layout. A trigger region may be divided into sub-triggerregions based on the divider. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12B,the trigger region may be divided into three sub-trigger regions 1221,1222, and 1223 based on the divider 1202 that splits a screen left andright. The trigger region may be divided into the sub-trigger region1222 with a preset length including the divider 1202 at a centerthereof, and the sub-trigger regions 1221 and 1223 respectively disposedon a left side and a right side from the divider 1202. When the positionof the handle region is included in the sub-trigger region 1221 disposedon the left side of the divider 1201, a window 1213 disposed on the leftside of the divider 1202 may be determined to be the window to bedownsized. When the position of the handle region is included in thesub-trigger region 1222 including the divider 1202, the window 1213 anda window 1214 may be determined to be the window to be downsized. Whenthe position of the handle region is included in the sub-trigger region1223 disposed on the right side of the divider 1202, the window 1214disposed on the right side of the divider 1202 may be determined to bethe window to be downsized.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12C, the trigger region may bedivided into three sub-trigger regions 1224, 1225, and 1226 based on thedivider 1203 that splits a screen up and down. The trigger region may bedivided into the sub-trigger region 1225 with a preset length includingthe divider 1203 at a center thereof, and the sub-trigger regions 1224and 1226 respectively disposed on an upper side and a lower side of thedivider 1203. When the position of the handle region is included in thesub-trigger region 1224 disposed on the upper side of the divider 1203,a window 1215 disposed on the upper side of the divider 1203 may bedetermined to be the window to be downsized. When the position of thehandle region is included in the sub-trigger region 1225 including thedivider 1203, the window 1215 and a window 1216 may be determined to bethe window to be downsized. When the position of the handle region isincluded in the sub-trigger region 1226 disposed on the lower side ofthe divider 1203, the window 1216 may be determined to be the window tobe downsized.

For example, a length of a sub-trigger region including a divider at acenter thereof may be determined to be an arbitrary fixed value, ordetermined based on a width or height of a screen. The length may bedetermined based on a size of a touch region receiving a touch inputfrom a user.

FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C (which may be referred to as FIGS. 13A through13C) are diagrams illustrating an example of displaying a position of apop-up window by changing a layout of a split screen according tovarious embodiments.

According to an example embodiment, when a downsizing direction and awindow to be downsized are determined, a processor may downsize thewindow in the determined downsizing direction to generate a new windowregion in which a pop-up window is to be arranged.

For example, FIG. 13A illustrates a layout of a split screen changedwhen an upper-end trigger region of FIG. 12B is overlaid with a pop-upwindow and a handle region of the pop-up window is disposed in thesub-trigger region 1221. As described above with reference to FIG. 11A,when a position of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up windowcorresponds to an upper end of the split screen, a downsizing directionmay be determined to be a downward direction. As described above withreference to FIG. 12B, when a position of the handle region of thepop-up window is included in a sub-trigger region disposed on a leftside with respect to a divider, a window disposed on the left side withrespect to the divider may be determined to be a window to be downsized.Referring to FIG. 13A, as an execution window of a first app determinedto be the window to be downsized is downsized in a determined downwarddirection, a new region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged maybe generated on an upper side of the downsized executed window of thefirst app.

For example, FIG. 13B illustrates a layout of a split screen changedwhen an upper-end trigger region of FIG. 12B is overlaid with a pop-upwindow and a handle region of the pop-up window is disposed in thesub-trigger region 1222. In this example, an execution window of a firstapp and an execution window of a second app may be determined to be thewindow to be downsized, and a downsizing direction may be determined tobe a downward direction. Based on a result of the determination, a newregion in which the pop-up window is to be arranged may be generated onan upper side of the downsized execution window of the first app and thedownsized execution window of the second app.

For example, FIG. 13C illustrates a layout of a split screen changedwhen an upper-end trigger region of FIG. 12B is overlaid with a pop-upwindow and a handle region of the pop-up window is disposed in thesub-trigger region 1223. In this example, an execution window of asecond app may be determined to be the window to be downsized, and adownsizing direction may be determined to be a downward direction. Basedon a result of the determination, a new region in which the pop-upwindow is to be arranged may be generated on an upper side of thedownsized execution window of the second app.

Similarly, in a split screen obtained by splitting a screen up and downand a split screen including at least two regions, a downsizingdirection and a window to be downsized may be determined. Based on aresult of the determination, at least one window may be downsized, and anew region in which a pop-up window is to be arranged may be generated.

For example, the window may be determined to be downsized to be half inwidth or height of the window, be determined to be downsized by a presetvalue, or determined based on an input from a user.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling ascreen displayed on a display of an electronic device according tovarious embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 14 , a method of controlling a screen displayed on adisplay of an electronic device may include operation 1410 of verifyinga trigger region in a split screen based on a layout of the split screendisplayed on the display, operation 1420 of detecting that at least aportion of the trigger region is overlaid with a pop-up window based ona first user input controlling a handle region of the pop-up windowdisplayed on an upper layer of the split screen, operation 1430 ofchanging the layout of the split screen based on at least one of aposition of the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-upwindow and a relative position of the handle region and a divider of thelayout, and operation 1440 of displaying a region in the split screen inwhich the pop-up window is to be arranged based on the changed layout ofthe split screen.

Operation 1410 of verifying the trigger region in the split screen mayinclude verifying the trigger region based on a splitting direction ofthe split screen.

Operation 1430 of changing the layout of the split screen may includedetermining a downsizing direction of one or more windows included inthe split screen based on the position of the portion of the triggerregion overlaid with the pop-up window, and determining a window to bedownsized among the windows included in the split screen based on therelative position of the handle region and the divider of the layout.

The determining of the downsizing direction of the split screen mayinclude determining the downsizing direction of the split screen to be adirection opposite to the position of the portion of the trigger regionoverlaid with the pop-up window.

The determining of the window to be downsized may include determiningthe window to be downsized based on whether the position of the handleregion is included in a sub-trigger region determined based on thedivider of the layout.

The method may further include generating a new window region in whichthe pop-up window is to be arranged by downsizing the window in thedetermined downsizing direction.

Operation 1440 of displaying the region in which the pop-up window is tobe arranged may include arranging the pop-up window in a regiondisplayed in the split screen based on a second user input determining aposition of the pop-up window.

The arranging of the pop-up window may further include changing a levelof the layer on which the pop-up window is displayed to a level of alayer on which the split screen is displayed.

The handle region may include at least a partial region predetermined(e.g., specified) in the pop-up window.

The handle region may be determined based on a region in the pop-upwindow receiving the first user input.

The split screen may include an execution window of at least one app runon the electronic device.

The pop-up window may include an execution window of a first app run onthe electronic device.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating examples of controlling ascreen displayed on a display of an electronic device according tovarious embodiments.

According to an example embodiment, a position of a pop-up window may bedetermined based on a target region predetermined in a screen. Referringto FIG. 15A, when an execution window of a second app is displayed as apop-up window on an upper layer of a first screen on which an executionwindow of a first app is displayed as a full screen, a target region1510 for determining a position in the first screen at which the pop-upwindow is to be arranged may be predetermined. According to an exampleembodiment, in response to an input from a user, a processor mayidentify a specific region 1511, 1512, 1513, or 1514 within the targetregion 1510 including the position of the pop-up window, and adjust alayout of the first screen such that the pop-up window is arranged in apartial region in the screen corresponding to the identified region.

For example, in a switch mode, when a position of a specific point inthe pop-up window (e.g., a point corresponding to a center of a handleregion of the pop-up window) is included in the region 1511 in responseto a first user input, the processor may downsize the execution windowof the first app downward and arrange the pop-up window at an upper endof the downsized execution window of the first app in the first screen,by a second user input. Similarly, in the switch mode, when the point inthe pop-up window is included in the region 1512, the processor maydownsize the execution window of the first app rightward and arrange thepop-up window on a left side of the downsized execution window of thefirst app in the first screen. When the point in the pop-up window isincluded in the region 1513, the processor may downsize the executionwindow of the first app upward and arrange the pop-up window at a lowerend of the downsized execution window of the first app in the firstscreen. When the point in the pop-up window is included in the region1514, the processor may downsize the execution window of the first appleftward and arrange the pop-up window on a right side of the downsizedexecution window of the first app in the first screen.

Referring to FIG. 15B, when an execution window of a first app isdisplayed as a pop-up window on an upper layer of a split screen onwhich execution windows of apps are displayed in a plurality of regions,respectively, a target region 1520 for determining a position in thesplit screen at which the pop-up window is to be arranged may bepredetermined. In response to an input from a user, the processor mayidentify a specific region in the target region 1520 including theposition of the pop-up window, and adjust a layout of the split screensuch that the pop-up window is arranged in a partial region in thescreen corresponding to the identified region.

According to various example embodiments, an electronic device describedherein may be a device of one of various types. The electronic devicemay include, as non-limiting examples, a portable communication device(e.g., a smartphone, etc.), a computing device, a portable multimediadevice, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, a homeappliance, or the like. However, the electronic device is not limited tothe foregoing examples.

It should be appreciated that various example embodiments of the presentdisclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit thetechnological features set forth herein to particular exampleembodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacementsfor a corresponding example embodiment. In connection with thedescription of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used forsimilar or related components. It is to be understood that a singularform of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of thethings, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As usedherein, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,”“A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “A, B, or C,” each ofwhich may include any one of the items listed together in thecorresponding one of the phrases, or all possible combinations thereof.Terms such as “first,” “second,” or “first” or “second” may simply beused to distinguish the component from other components in question, anddo not limit the components in other aspects (e.g., importance ororder). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a firstelement) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or“communicatively,” as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or“connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), the element maybe coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly,or via a third element.

As used in connection with various example embodiments of thedisclosure, the term “module” may include a unit implemented inhardware, software, or firmware, or any combination thereof, and mayinterchangeably be used with other terms, for example, “logic,” “logicblock,” “part,” or “circuitry.” A module may be a single integralcomponent, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to perform one ormore functions. For example, according to an example embodiment, themodule may be implemented in the form of an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC).

Various example embodiments set forth herein may be implemented assoftware (e.g., the program 140) including one or more instructions thatare stored in a storage medium (e.g., the internal memory 136 or theexternal memory 138) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronicdevice 101). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor 120) of themachine (e.g., the electronic device 101) may invoke at least one of theone or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it.This allows the machine to be operated to perform at least one functionaccording to the at least one instruction invoked. The one or moreinstructions may include a code generated by a compiler or a codeexecutable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may beprovided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. The“non-transitory” storage medium is a tangible device, and may notinclude a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does notdifferentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in thestorage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storagemedium.

According to various example embodiments, a method according to anexample embodiment of the disclosure may be included and provided in acomputer program product. The computer program product may be traded asa product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product maybe distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g.,compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g.,downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g.,PlayStore™), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly.If distributed online, at least part of the computer program product maybe temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in themachine-readable storage medium, such as memory of the manufacturer'sserver, a server of the application store, or a relay server.

According to various example embodiments, each component (e.g., a moduleor a program) of the above-described components may include a singleentity or multiple entities, and some of the multiple entities may beseparately disposed in different components. According to variousexample embodiments, one or more of the above-described components oroperations may be omitted, or one or more other components or operationsmay be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components(e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component.In such a case, according to various example embodiments, the integratedcomponent may still perform one or more functions of each of theplurality of components in the same or similar manner as they areperformed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components beforethe integration. According to various example embodiments, operationsperformed by the module, the program, or another component may becarried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, orone or more of the operations may be executed in a different order oromitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described with referenceto various example embodiments, it will be understood that the variousexample embodiments are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Itwill further be understood by those skilled in the art that variouschanges in form and detail may be made without departing from the truespirit and full scope of the disclosure, including the appended claimsand their equivalents. It will also be understood that any of theembodiment(s) described herein may be used in conjunction with any otherembodiment(s) described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling a screen displayed on a display of an electronic device, the method comprising: based on a layout of a split screen displayed on the display, verifying a trigger region in the split screen; based on a first input controlling a handle region of a pop-up window displayed on an upper layer of the split screen, detecting that at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; changing the layout of the split screen based on at least one of a position of the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window, a relative position of the handle region and a divider of the layout; and displaying a region in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged, based on the changed layout of the split screen.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing of the layout of the split screen comprises: determining a downsizing direction of one or more windows comprising the split screen based on the position of the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window; and determining at least one window to be downsized among the windows comprising the split screen based on the relative position of the handle region and the divider of the layout.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the downsizing direction of the split screen comprises: determining a direction opposite to the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window to be the downsizing direction.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the window to be downsized comprises: determining the window to be downsized based on whether a position of the handle region is in a sub-trigger region determined based on the divider of the layout.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: generating a new window region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged by downsizing the window to be downsized in the determined downsizing direction.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying of the trigger region in the split screen comprises: verifying the trigger region based on a splitting direction of the split screen.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged comprises: arranging the pop-up window in a displayed region in the split screen based on a second input determining a position of the pop-up window.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the arranging of the pop-up window comprises: changing a level of a layer on which the pop-up window is displayed to a level of a layer on which the split screen is displayed.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the handle region comprises a region of at least a specified portion in the pop-up window.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the handle region is determined based on a region in the pop-up window receiving the first input.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the split screen comprises execution windows of one or more applications run on the electronic device, and the pop-up window comprises an execution window of a first application run on the electronic device.
 12. A method of controlling a screen displayed on a display of an electronic device, the method comprising: verifying a trigger region in a screen comprising an execution window of a first application run by the electronic device; based on a first input controlling a position of a pop-up window displayed on an upper layer of the screen, detecting that at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; splitting the screen comprising the execution window of the first application based on the position of the overlaid portion of the trigger region; and displaying a region in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the splitting of the screen comprises: determining a splitting direction of the screen based on the position of the overlaid portion of the trigger region; and splitting the screen based on the determined splitting direction.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the displaying of the region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged comprises: arranging the execution window of the first application in a first region in the split screen based on the position of the overlaid portion of the trigger region; and displaying a second region in the split screen as the region in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the screen comprises the execution window of the first application run by the electronic device, and the pop-up window comprises an execution window of a second application run by the electronic device.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operations of claim
 1. 17. An electronic device comprising: a display configured to output a screen; and a processor operatively connected to the display and configured to control the screen displayed on the display, wherein the processor is configured to: based on a layout of a split screen displayed on the display, verify a trigger region in the split screen; based on a first input controlling a handle region of a pop-up window displayed on an upper layer of the split screen, detect that at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; change the layout of the split screen based on at least one of a position of the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window, a relative position of the handle region and a divider of the layout; and display a region in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged based on the changed layout of the split screen.
 18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein, for the changing of the layout of the split screen, the processor is configured to: determine a downsizing direction of windows comprising the split screen based on the position of the portion of the trigger region overlaid with the pop-up window; and determine at least one window to be downsized among the windows comprising the split screen based on the relative position of the handle region and the divider of the layout.
 19. An electronic device comprising: a display configured to output a screen; and a processor operatively connected to the display and configured to control the screen displayed on the display, wherein the processor is configured to: verify a trigger region in the screen comprising an execution window of a first application being run; based on a first input controlling a position of a pop-up window displayed on an upper layer of the screen, detect that at least a portion of the trigger region is overlaid with the pop-up window; split the screen comprising the execution window of the first application based on the position of the overlaid portion of the trigger region; and display a region in the split screen in which the pop-up window is to be arranged.
 20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein, for the splitting of the screen, the processor is configured to: determine a splitting direction of the screen based on the position of the overlaid portion of the trigger region; and split the screen based on the determined splitting direction. 